We love Valentine’s Day. It’s a time to celebrate our partners and a great excuse to go all out with fancy food. But if you haven’t already noticed, I like to do things on the cheap. Expensive meals are fine for special occasions, but when you want to save money without sacrificing flavor or quality—well, that just seems silly, doesn't it? So instead of spending an arm and a leg on pricey ingredients this year, why not try these easy recipes that can be made in under 20 minutes?
Breakfast
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French toast cups with strawberries and cream cheese: These sweet treats are perfect for a family breakfast or brunch with friends. They're easy to make, don't require any cooking, and look great when serving them on a platter. You can keep them warm by setting the cups on a cookie sheet in the oven at 200 degrees Fahrenheit until ready to serve. Add some fancy twists, like sprinkling on powdered sugar or drizzling melted chocolate over the top for garnish!
Lunch
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Make a sandwich. Sandwiches are an easy, portable meal that can be made in about 15 minutes. There are so many options for sandwiches—plain deli meat and cheese, peanut butter and jelly, avocado toast with tomatoes and spinach—you could even make a unique Valentine's Day-themed sandwich like one of these:
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Make a salad. Salads are always an option on the go, whether you're looking for something light or hearty. If you want something simple but still delicious (and pretty), try making one of these:
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Make soup. Soup is another excellent option that can be made quickly and easily in under 20 minutes; this recipe is perfect for winter days when it's cold outside:
Dinner
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Make a beef stew. This classic comfort food is easy to make and will fill you up for hours, making it the perfect dinner option when you want something delicious but don't want to spend all day in the kitchen.
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Make a grilled cheese sandwich. Nothing says "I love you" like grilled cheese, especially when it's made with gooey American cheese and buttery bread—and it can be ready in five minutes!
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Make pasta with pesto or marinara sauce (or both). You can also add chicken or shrimp to this dish if you want some protein. You'll be ready to eat again in less than 20 minutes!
Dessert
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Chocolate Mousse
1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 large egg yolks at room temperature (reserve the whites for another recipe)
1/3 cup sugar
You can make a great meal in less than 20 minutes.
Valentine's Day is supposed to be about love and romance, but it can also feel like a chore if you're anything like me. I'm not saying that our love isn't worth celebrating—it most definitely is!—but at the end of the day, I want my Valentine's Day dinner to be simple and delicious. Luckily, this is possible with these easy recipes that don't require much effort or fancy ingredients. You can make any of these in less than 20 minutes (or even less than 10!) while still having plenty of time for kissing and snuggling before bedtime.
So give your sweetheart something special this Valentine's Day without stressing about cooking an elaborate meal from scratch!
Don’t let the holiday get you down. There are plenty of delicious, easy recipes that you can make in 20 minutes or less! Whether it’s breakfast, lunch, or dinner, we’ve covered all your Valentine’s Day needs. So go ahead—get cookin'.